International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and Technology (IJLTET)

Adoption of synchrophasor technology

in Indian grid to avoid grid failures & black
outs
T Rakesh
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
BHASKAR ENGINEERING COLLEGE
J.B Group of institutions
Moinabad, Hyderabad 500075

Dr. K.K.Jain
PROFESSOR & HOD EEE
BHASKAR ENGINEERING COLLEGE
J.B Group of institutions
Moinabad, Hyderabad 500075
Abstract- Synchrophasor Technology is a power full tool to diagnose, prevent and cure the Grid system .Synchrophasor
is high speed real time synchronized measurement device used for finding health of* Electric Grid* This advanced
technology has been adopted in our Grid only after Indian Grid code 2010 passed in parliament. POWER GRID the
Nodal agency proposed to go in big way WAMS (Wide Area Measurement System) for the whole country. based on GPS
(Global Positioning System technology) Under pilot Project 4nos PMUs (Phasor Measurement Units) have been deployed
in North Grid at 4 locations VIZ (1) KANPUR (2)VINDHYACHAL (3) DADRI (4) MOGA ,400 KV SUBSTATIONS and
is being monitored at NRLDC (North Region Load Dispatch Center)DELHI .The results are very much encouraging.
This paper describes Synchrophasor Technology and its advantages over present SCADA system and how Utilities can
integrate Synchrophasor dates in existing SCADA/EMS .WAMS technology using PMU units data is found instrumental
in early warning system. It reduces the likely hood of power disturbance,false trips and cascade tripping leading towards*
BLACK OUT* Recently INDIA faced world worst BLACK OUT on 31st JULY 2012 affecting 60 corers population of 3
grids in 21 States of N,NE East regional for more than 8 hrs .life was paralyzed in day time (13hrs to 21hrs).No effect
was observed in west & South States. This technology is worldwide considered solution to avoid future black outs of the
system. Along with other advantageous applications of the PMU systems.*

Keywords Synchrophasor technology, wide area measurement systems (WAMS).

I. INTRODUCTION
India suffered a major grid disturbance in northern region at midnight at 02:33hrs on 30th July 2012 and further
severe disturbance occurred at 13hrs on31st July resulting collapse of 48000MW of power in North, East& NorthEast Regions EXCEPT Western& South Regions. This grid disturbance affected normal life of 60crore population
of the country for more than 8hrs.This has necessitated our grid system for modernization and development to the
level of a smart grid by deploying synchrophasor technology which is world wide accepted as a solution towards
future blackouts and grid failures. This is a ultra fast measurement system of grid parameters which would be 100
Times faster then present SCADA/EMS system. Adoption of this technology is been done in phased manner in
coming 10years by 2022.This paper deals with present status of grid system and complicated structure to be dealt in
future with coming IPPS and UMPPS and renewable energy generation to be added to the system for efficient grid
operation.
II. PROPOSED ALGORITHM
2.1 DETAILS OF GRID FAILURE ON 30

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TH

&31ST JULY 2012.

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International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and Technology (IJLTET)

On 30th july 2012 northern grid failed at 02.33hrs(AM) with load collapse of 36000 MW affecting the power failure
in all nine states On 31st July 2012 all the three regional grids failed at 13hrs with collapse of 48000 MW power in N
E & N E regions paralyzing the normal life of 60 corers population of the country for more than 8 hrs .This was
spread in 20 states VIZ NR(9),East(5),NER(7) namely West Bengal,Bihar,Jharkhand,Orissa and Sikkim. NER
[Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya ,Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura
.
2.2 SYNCHROPHASOR TECHNOLOGY
Synchrophasor technology is a powerful tool for diagnose, prevention and cure for grid system. Synchrophasor are
high speed real time synchronized measurement device used for finding health of electrical grid. It is also considered
as ULTRA FAST measurement system of grid parameters, and is 100 times faster than present SCADA system.
With Synchrophasor datas electrical utilities can use existing power more efficiently and push more power through
existing grid system. It reduces likely hood of power disturbances, false trips and cascade tripping leading towards
BLACK OUTS. Power grid proposed to go in big way for WAMS (wide area management systems) for whole
country. Under pilot project 4 nos Synchrophasor have been deployed in northern grid viz (1) Kanpur (2)
Vindhyachal (3) Dadri (4) Moga, 400 KV substations and is being monitored at NRLDC, DELHI. The results are
very much encouraging. This paper describes Synchrophasor technology and its advantage over present SCADA
system and how utilities can Integrate Synchrophasor datas in existing SCADA/EMS. WAMS technology using
PMU (Phasor measurement unit) data is found instrumented in improving early warning system. Wide Area
Protection System and many other applications.
2.3 DETAILS OF INDIAN GRID SYSTEMIndian grid is fourth biggest in world (USA, EUROPE, CHINA & INDIA) transferring pwer through five regional
grids and one national grid with transmission voltage ranging from 132/220/400/765 KV Ac and + 500 KV HVDC
transmission system. Interconnecting regional grids by HVDC Transmission inter link system . Our grid system has
been using SCADA/EMS system for grid data processing and monitoring. Recently power grid has deployed four
(4) Synchrophasors in northern grid in May 2010. Viz at 1) Kanpur (2) Vindhyachal (3) Dadri (4) Moga. NRLDC is
monitoring & analysis PMU datas at Delhi. This technology has reduced possibility of future BLOCK OUTS of
systems. It is 100 times faster than present SCADA system. It is possible to monitor inside view of grid system of
dynamic study of grid disturbance can be studied and analysis well. Synchrophasors are the Phasor measurements
taken synchronously at same instant of time. A phasor is a complex number that represents both magnitude and
phase angle of the electricity waves.Synchrophasors measurements can be taken precisely and time synchronously
by the devices called phasor measurement unit (PMUs) which are synchronized with help of GPS. These
measurements are taken at high speed typically 25 or 50 observations per second. Each measurement is time
stamped according to a common time reference provided
2.4 PRESENT POWER STATUS OF COUNTRY
Indian power system is expanding at high rate with present installed Power Generation capacity has reached to the
level of 2,06,000 MW by end of 31-12-2012 . Power is generated through by 2000 Nos generating units feeding
power to the grid. The size of generating set is 30 mw to 660mw in the thermal generation. In Hydel it is 10mw to
150mw each unit .Through Thermal Power stations of country generates 67% and from Hydel it is 20% of total
Power and through Nuclear Power we Generate only 3% and Non conventional Renewable power generation is 10%
only, mostly through wind power and biomass. Solar PV is opening their accounts now. Transmission system is
having 132/220/400 KV and 765 KV AC system and + 500 kV through HVDC inter connected systems. In near
future 1200 KV AC and 800 KV HVDC system is going to be introduced by year 2015. The complexity of
operation of grid system will be further increased.
2.5 INDIAN ELECTRICITY GRID CODE 2010
RLDC. As per Indian Electricity Grid code 2010-clause no 4.6.2 The Reliable and efficient speech and Data
Communication System shall be provided to facilitate necessary communication and data exchange, and
supervision/control of the grid by the RLDC, under normal and abnormal conditions. All users, STUs and CTU shall
provide systems to telemeter power system parameter such as flow, voltage and status of switches/transformer taps
etc. in line with interface requirements and other guideline made available by The associated communication system
to facilitate data flow up to appropriate data collection point on CTUs system, shall also be established by the
concern user or STU as specified by CTU in the Connection Agreement. All users/ STUs in coordination with CTU

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International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and Technology (IJLTET)

shall provide the required facilities at their respective ends as specified in the Connection Agreement
Synchrophasor definition measurement and applications have been coded in IEEE 1344 and IEEE- C37.118
2005 standards in power systems the time accuracy of measurement reached up to 1 micro second, that is why the
inside view of power system can be seen Dynamically and necessary preventive steps can be taken by system
operators to avoid cascade tripping and black outs. National ,Regional ,and State level load dispatch centers: The
country is Geographically divided in five regions namely N,E,W, North-East and South Region from power system
point of view 1st four out of five regional grid operating in synchronous mode with south region which is Inter
connected with through asynchronous links Each of Five regions is carrying out grid management with support of
system at regional load dispatch centers (RLDC) Data exchange with state load dispatch centers (SLDC) is taking
place with ICCP connectivity between RLDC & SLDC for Integrated grid operation. Inter Regional connectivity
through HVDC B2B and EHV Transmission network. There are 33 control centers and 315 RTUs locations in
Northern grid itself in integrated manner
2.6 DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL GRID
Realization of Nations dream in formation of an Integrated National Grid with optimal and economic dispatch of
Power between Regions/states is the driving force behind contemplating the load dispatch and communication
Project for the country The capability, faster system restoration, post disturbance data Analysis. Government of
India has entrusted Power Grid with the responsibility of implementing the load dispatch& Communication Project
In association with the constituents The National Grid aims to integrate the Power Transmission Network across the
country and consists of following grids.
National, Regional, State and Area Load Dispatch centers
1. All 5 grids separately working before October 1991
2.

In October 1991 East and north east synchronized.

3.

In march 2003 west synchronized with north east we can central grid.

4.

In august 2006 north synchronized with central grid.

5.

In 2014 it is expected to synchronize south grid with other four grids. This will make one nation one grid.

2.7 COMPONENTS OF WAM TECHNOLOGY

7.1.1 PMUs
7.1.2 Phasor Data concentrator (PDC).
7.1.3 Substation Phasor Data concentrator (SPDC)
7.1.4 Master Phasor Data concentrator (MPDC)
7.1.4 System architecture for WAMS in India.
7.1.1 PMU measurements are providing real time measurement of electrical quantity MW, MVAR, Voltage, Current
, Phase angle of voltage , Power factor etc., its application includes validation, modeling , stability , magnitude and
maximum power transfer. It is receiving
1. Faults recording
2. Dynamic system monitoring installation and continuous.
3. Sequence event recording
4. Power quality
5. Fault location
6. Syncrophasor data Sending through C.37.118, system
CASE STUDY OF ANDHRA PRADESH
AP State Estimator to State Measurement State Estimator (SE) tools currently deployed in SCADA system uses
measurements i.e., MW, MVAR, voltage magnitude except ,Phase angle measurement etc., which is done in case
of Synchrophasors.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE ULDC/SLDC SCHEME EMS/SCADA

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International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and Technology (IJLTET)

Energy Management System and Supervisory control and Data Acquisition System in five hierarchical control
centers integrating RTUs located at 125 strategic substations and generating stations spread across the A.P.Grid for
polling real time data for monitoring, control and analysis.
MULTI LEVEL CONTROL CENTER SETUP OF LOAD DISPATCH CENTERS
NLDC (National load dispatch center) Delhi
RLDCS (REGIONAL LOAD DISPATCH CENTERS)
( 1) NRDC
(2) ERLDC
(3) SRLDC
(4) WRLDC
(5) NERDC
SLDCS (STATE LOAD DISPATCH CENTER---ANDHRA PREDESH )
CPCC, PONDY, TNEB AP, KARNATAKA KERALA
ALDCS ------ (AREA LOAD DISPECH CENTERS OF AP)
WGL
HYD
VJA
CDP
RTU 1TO 19 1TO 32 1TO 34 1TO 31
SYNCROPHASOR TECHNOLOGY THROUGH GPS SYSTEM
There are 24 Nos SATELLITES which are in 24 orbits at the distance of 16000 km from Earth and 6 orbits
are being viewed all time giving time accuracy of 1 micro seconds.
The advent of SATELLITE based time keeping systems advances in computer technology have made
possible protective relays sampling synchronization with 1 micro seconds. These relays can now provide
synchronized Phasor measurements that eliminate the need to have different devices for protection, control and
electrical power system analysis for system wide application and traditional protection applications. System wide
applications have different sampling & signal processing requirement than do traditional protection applications.
POWER SYSTEM ANALYSIS
NLDC: NORTHERN LOAD DISPATCH CENTER
Substation
Instate estimate at Offline mode
NLDC (terminals) (terminals)
765 KV
2
2
400 KV
275
284
220 KV
34
1315
TRANSMISSION LINES
765 KV
2
2
400 KV
611
622
220 KV
51
3034
Transformers 794
2031
Load
834
2672
Generator
263
557
Table no:1

A comparison of truncated state estimator network and All India Network, used offline studies is given above.
PMUs are installed at Dadri, Kanpur, Vindhyachal & Moga. Datas are compared with estimated angles in order to
improve the results.
Comparison of PMU estimate Angles

Places of
of PMU

deployment

Dadri - Moga.
Kanpur - Dadri
Kanpur - Moga
Vindhyachal - Dadri
Vindhyachal - Kanpur

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PMU
estimated
angle
11.47
11.62
23.09
32.97
21.35

184

Actual
Angles
12.68
13.44
22.10
35.23
23.49

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International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and Technology (IJLTET)

Vindhyachal - Moga

44.44

46.12

Table no:2

Four more additional places have been selected for PMU deployement.
(1).400 KV substation Kishnapur
(2) 400 KV substation Hissar
(3) 400 KV substation Bassi
(4) 400 KV substation Agra
Advantages Of adopting Synchrophasor Technology
(1) WIDE AREA MEASURE-WHOLE COUNTRY
Power flow parameters can be visualize and monitored and control at National Load Dispatch Center Delhi by
end of 2012,Thirty seven thousand (37,000 MW) flow would be controlled by NLDC and 1,00,000 MW by end
year 2017.
(2) POWER QUALITY MONITORING
(a) Unbalance
(b) Harmonics
(c) Sag & swell
(d) Monitoring Interruptions
(3)SYSTEM INTEGRATED PROTECTION SCHEMES
(4) Network Model Validation and Parameter Finalization for better GRID Management System.
III.CONCLUSION
This technology provides wide area time synchronized and time stamped measurements commonly knowns as
synchrophasor measurements. Present existing SCADA/EMS measurements has capability to provides only steady
state view of grid / system , where as synchrophasor technology provides wide area dynamic real time visualization,
monitoring safety , security of the grid in effective manner with advancement in communication in IT technology
and ever increasing need of complex grid solutions visibility of power system of synchrophsor initiatives are been
taken in Indian grid to face the future challenges. Grid is marching one step ahead towards smart grid .
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]

Modern Power System Analysis Fourth Edition] by D P Kothari &I J Nagrath.

Arun Phadke,Synchronized Phasors articleIEEE Computer Applications in Power,April 1993.
V.K.Agarwal and P.K.Agarwal,[Power Grid,India Limited]commissioning of PMUs Pilot project in north region of India, Nation
Power System Conference 2010,India.
IEEE Standard C37.118-2005,IEEE Standard for Power Systems.
www.powergridindia.in
www.cea.nic.in

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